Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has vowed to overhaul Kenya’s diplomatic representation abroad if his camp wins the 2027 General Election, starting with the dismissal of all ambassadors appointed by President William Ruto.
Speaking during a town hall meeting with Kenyan expatriates in Boston on Monday, Gachagua accused the Ruto administration of tribal favoritism in key diplomatic postings and neglecting the diaspora’s voice in shaping Kenya’s foreign and trade policies.
“If we form the next government, we shall appoint one of your own here in Los Angeles. And you will take over the Washington, D.C. embassy,” Gachagua declared to applause. “You understand the challenges Kenyans face here. You know how to grow trade between Kenya and the U.S. because you’ve lived it.”
Gachagua criticized President Ruto for disregarding his advice on involving diaspora professionals in embassies. He cited the appointment of David Kerich as Kenya’s ambassador to the U.S. as an example of ethnic-based appointments that alienate the wider Kenyan community abroad.
“He [Ruto] ignored my counsel and picked someone from his own tribe. Since arriving in Washington, he has only met with his tribesmen,” Gachagua said. “That is not how you build a country.”
The former deputy president emphasized that Kenyan missions abroad must be led by individuals who understand both the host country and the needs of Kenyans living there. He stressed the role of the diaspora in boosting trade exports like tea and coffee and fostering international partnerships.
Gachagua’s remarks come amid growing political tensions within the Kenya Kwanza coalition, with factions increasingly voicing discontent over what they see as Ruto’s centralization of power and appointments.
As the race for 2027 begins to take shape, Gachagua is positioning himself as a champion of diaspora inclusion and institutional reform, while taking direct aim at President Ruto’s foreign policy and leadership style.
